Presbytidings – October 2014
The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church
216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787
(402) 375-2669 + www.fpcwayne.org
“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”
A WORD FROM THE PASTOR
I’ve never really known anyone personally who has gotten in trouble with the law. I mean more than a speeding ticket: I mean really in trouble with the law. And recent local events have changed that for me. For lots of us, the legal system has suddenly become up close and personal. And the news has caused me to re-think how I should respond to people who may have done something immoral and illegal, even when the truth is not fully known.
What is the right way for a Christian to respond to someone in trouble—not to mention how to treat his or her family?
Probably most of us have a gut reaction that demands justice and punishment, especially when the misdeed in question is repugnant to our sensibilities. This mindset of retributive justice is deeply ingrained in our American legal system. This way of thinking treats bad deeds as a crime against the state and against abstract principles of right and wrong; and it demands punishment that fits the crime—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
I recently read an exchange on social media about a dog that had been stolen by a man, who then gave it away and claimed no knowledge of the dog at all—even though it sounded like everyone knew he had done it. And there were two types of responses by those who chimed in on how to proceed with the dog thief: punitive and restorative.
The punitive response: “I hope they fine this guy big time and some jail time wouldn’t hurt him at all so he can sit and think about what he did.”
And the restorative response: “I hope they get their friend [i.e., their dog] back.”
Sometimes, especially when we don’t know or care about the guilty party, it’s easy for us to say, “Throw the book at him!” Or, “Put him in prison and throw away the key!” But is that always the best outcome? It seems that a better question to ask when someone is caught in a crime, is to say, “How can this be made right? How can this person be restored to wholeness and be reunited with his family?” Because it doesn’t do anyone good to throw an otherwise decent person into prison for the rest of his life, with no chance of his kids knowing their father and no chance of a wife being reconciled to her husband. This is the restorative approach: when wrongdoing is seen as a violation against another human being, and the solution is reconciliation between the two parties—the one at fault and the one faulted.
And I’m not just talking about one notorious example. But when a kid is naughty at school and hurts others: How many chances do we give him before we demand that he is shipped off for good? And when someone offends us deeply with hurtful words: How much rope do we give them before we write them off as dead and go about our lives without them? How many times must we forgive our brother or sister who has wronged us? (Matthew 18:21)
C.S. Lewis poignantly wrote that, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” We tend to see sins like we are looking a city’s skyline: some tall and some short; some big and some little. But God sees sins as one looking down on the city: all the buildings—skyscrapers and bungalows alike—look the same to him. Although we may judge some sins as particularly vile or abominable, God sees them all the same: our sins just as much a problem as the other guy’s sins.
Lewis’ comment is a pretty fair summary of Colossians 3:13b: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” It’s amazing to think that God is able to forgive everything we have done. And yes, even that. In his unfathomable mercy poured out at the cross, God forgives the little sins and the big sins alike. And we must always be humble when looking at someone else’s wrongdoing, knowing that we have temptations in our own hearts, and that sometimes the only difference between us and the guy in court is that he acted on his temptations and we didn’t—or that he got caught and we didn’t.
I feel the weight of our broken world. Whether it’s dog theft, or something “worse,” there is plenty wrong with the world. Whether it’s something scandalous and public, or merely the secret temptations that seethe inside us, there is plenty of guilt to go around. But thankfully, God is forgiving and gentle and merciful. Jesus has died to take away all our sins and to forgive us. So let us always keep that in the front of our minds, and let us always pray impartially for those who struggle publicly and for those who struggle privately.
Pastor Ray
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together on Sunday, October 5. It is World Communion Sunday, a day when we share the Bread of life and the Cup of salvation alongside Christians in all different traditions. We will also pray for unity in the Body of Christ, that we may be one, even as Jesus and the Father are one (John 17:22).
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
The session has called for a congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, October 5th (11:00 am). The item of business is approving a compensation package for Pastor Ray for 2015. All active members are encouraged to participate.
BROWN-BAG BIBLE IS BACK
Pastor Ray is leading a Bible study in the Goldenrod Room (WSC Student Center), Wednesdays at noon while classes are in session. Bring a friend, bring your deepest questions about life and faith, bring your lunch, bring a Bible, and bring an open mind and heart!
HOMESTEAD RECORDS REVIEW
FPC Wayne will host the northern group of clerks of session for their annual records review on Saturday, 10/18, at 2:00 pm.
HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP
Wear your work clothes to worship on Sunday, 10/19. We will go out to our stretch of Highway 35 (mile markers 33-35) after worship to pick up litter. This is a great time for families to do a service project together.
SESSION
The next session meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
CHURCH HALLOWEEN PARTY
Kids and youth of all ages! Bring a friend to our church’s Halloween extravaganza! Wednesday, 10/29, 7:00-8:00 pm in our Fellowship Hall. There will be refreshments, pumpkin decorating (bring your own pumpkin, if you can), games (there has been word of a donut-on-a-string game and apple bobbing), and a costume contest! Don’t miss out!
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Presbyterian Women will meet Wednesday, October 1 at 6:30. We will begin our Bible Study: Reconciling Paul a study of 2nd Corinthians. Jackie Owens will lead the Bible Study this month. Karen Johnson is the hostess.
SEWING SOULS
Sewing Souls has donated 12 pillow cases with pillows to Providence Medical Center. The travel size pillows are given out to children at the hospital. We will be working on more pillowcases to keep their closet full, along with other projects. It is never too early to start working on projects for Calvin Crest. Join us on Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 to work on these projects. Sewing Souls have also completed and donated catheter bag covers to the hospital. The hostess this month is Babs Middleton.
YOUTH GROUP
The high school youth group will meet on 10/1 and 10/15, 7:30-8:30pm, in the youth room. Grades 9-12.
The junior high youth group will meet on 10/8 and 10/22, 7:30-8:30pm, in the youth room. Grades 6-8.
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting a movie night for high school students on Wednesday, 10/22. Watch for more details!
NOTE: There will be no youth groups on the fifth Wednesday of the month, 10/29. Instead, there will be an all-church Halloween party! See details above.
CHURCH SCHOOL UPDATE
This fall we are having church school during worship, for grades preschool through 7th grade. Church school features “What’s in the Bible?” a series by the creators of Veggie Tales. Church school is during worship this fall (10:00-11:00am), so you can sleep in a bit longer! Bring a friend!
Grades 5, 6, and 7 will be delivering gourds on 10/19 and carving pumpkins on 10/26, during church school. Don’t miss out!
SISTINE CHAPEL SHOW AT THE WSC PLANETARIUM
Join other members of our church family as we view the Sistine Chapel from the comfort of the Wayne State College Planetarium on Sunday, November 2nd at 1:30pm. Reservations are encouraged, so a sign-up sheet is on the Opportunity Table. Suggested donations for planetarium shows are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Scholarships are available, ask at the church office.
FELLOWSHIP TIME CHANGES
After experimenting with different configurations over the summer, the session has announced a new policy about Fellowship Time after worship. We will keep the sign-up sheet at the Opportunity Table and encourage people to provide refreshments for after worship to enable fellowship. The key direction for people providing snacks is this: Keep it simple! It doesn’t need to be elaborate or overly filling. Fruit, cookies (store-bought is fine), or even just coffee is great. And when no one signs up for Fellowship Time, we will ask (in advance) the greeters to put on a pot of coffee and set out a package of cookies from the freezer. Thank you for your cooperation! Our goal is to efficiently provide a reason for people to linger with each other after worship.
CROSSPOINT CAMPUS MINISTRY
CrossPoint is fired up and ready to go this year! But they need your help to do even more! If you would like to help with some of the CrossPoint activities, please contact the director, Josh Sievers, at (502) 649-1924 or joshsievers@live.com. To see what CrossPoint is all about, visit www.crosspointwayne.net. They are hosting a Bible study every Wednesday evening at 7:30pm.
LIFE CHAIN
The 18th Annual Life Chain, hosted by Wayne Area Right to Life, will be held Sunday, October 5, 2014, from 2:30-3:30 along Main Street and 7th Street in Wayne, Nebraska. Participants will stand to form the shape of a cross, to silently pray and witness for an end to abortion. (If you can’t stand, bring your lawn chair.) Signs may be picked up at the corner of 7th and Main.
WAYNE COMMUNITY CROP HUNGER WALK
The annual CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, October 12th. The CROP Walk is the original charitable walking event to end hunger both locally and internationally (i.e. the Wayne Food Pantry and WACAM). For more information please go to www.crophungerwalk.org or contact Deb Hammer at debhammer@abbnebraska.com
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, November 2, at 2:00am. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour, or you’ll have plenty of time for solitary meditation in the sanctuary!
SERMONS ON THE WEB
Pastor Ray’s sermons can be heard on our Web site: www.fpcwayne.org/media.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Providence Medical Center will be hosting a Grief Support Group during October and November. Times are dates are posted on our bulletin board. For more information, please contact Shirley at PMC’s hospice division (402) 375-4288.
SUMMER MISSION CAMP 2015?
Are you interested in joining the mission trip to Colorado in 2015? Please contact Chris Hansen at First Presbyterian in Lincoln if you have ANY questions or would like to join the group. Chris can be reached at yaya@fpclincoln.org or 402-477-6037. We would love to send some youth (grades 6-12) on a mission trip next summer! Please visit with Pastor Ray if you are at all interested.
MISSION AND MINISTRY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Do you have an interest in the Czech Republic? Join Karen Moritz as she speaks to the Homestead Presbytery in Clarkson, NE, on Thursday, November 20. Karen works with the PC (USA) and the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB). For more information check http://www.homesteadpres.org/index.html
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First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Our community
- Our schools and teachers
- Our unchurched neighbors
- All who are battling cancer
- All who live in care centers
- CrossPoint Campus Ministry and our college students
- Peace in the Middle East
- Families and individuals who are hurting, or who are in trouble.
- Persecuted Christians in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea
Greeters October 2014
5th – The Peterson Family
12th – The McCorkindale Family
19th – The Worner Family
26th – Jack & Bev Beeson, Mark & Jenny Hammer
Greeters November 2014
2nd – John & Anita Fuelberth, Phil & Jean Griess
9th – Ken & Jan Liska, Ken & Karen Marra
16th – Scott & Lindsay McLaughlin, Jim & Shari Paige
30th – Milton & Jackie Owens, Jim Lindau & Joyce Reeg
Lectors October 2014
5th – Luke Pulfer
12th – Bev Beeson
19th – Jim Curtiss
26th – Phil Griess
Lectors November 2014
2nd – Marta Pulfer
9th – Larry Heese
16th – Greg Worner
23rd – Karen Johnson
30th – Mark Hammer
Acolytes October 2014
5th – Emily Armstrong
12th – Madison Beair
19th – Shea Sweetland
26th – Gabriel Peitz
Acolytes November 2014
2nd – Jon Worner
9th – Emily Worner
16th – Cate Worner
23rd – Gen McCalla
30th – Nina Hammer
October 2014 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
Each Sunday Morning:
|
1
6:30 Presbyterian Women 7:30 High School Youth |
2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 5
World Communion Day 11:00 Congregational Meeting on Pastor Allowance |
6 | 7 | 8
7:30 Jr. High Youth |
9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
6:30 Sewing Souls 7:30 High School Youth |
16 | 17 | 18
2:00 Session Records Review |
| 19
10:00 Grades 5-7 delivering gourds to care center 11:00 Highway Clean-up |
20 | 21 | 22
7:30 Jr. High Youth |
23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26
10:00 Grades 5-7 carving pumpkins |
27
7:00 Session Meeting |
28 | 29
7:00 Halloween Extravaganza! |
30 | 31 | |
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
5 Dale Johnson
8 John Fuelberth
10 Brook Bowers, Jon Worner
14 Sydney McCorkindale
15 Reggie Yates
15 Pat McDonald
16 Marilyn Yates
18 Ronald Clark
20 Braydn McCorkindale
21 Rob Sweetland
22 Eleanor McCalla
23 Stephanie Racely
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First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 